Monthly Archives: November 2012

This is a quick tutorial on how to install and scan for wireless networks using the Wigle app on an Android phone, and how to save the scan to a file that can be loaded in Google Earth to visualize the scanned networks on a map. If you’re not familiar with Wigle.net you should visit the website. The Wigle site has a searchable database of over 75 million wireless networks that people have uploaded to it.

NOTE: For these instructions I’m using a Droid4 phone with Android version 4.0.4.

Installing the Wigle App

Go to the Google Play Store and search for Wigle.

Tap on Wigle Wifi Wardriving in the Apps section.

Tap install.

Tap Accept & Download.

Depending on the speed of the network your on it might take a minute or two to download the Wigle app and install it.

Scanning for Networks

Go to the device Settings and tap on Wi-Fi to turn it on.

Go to the Apps section and tap on the Wigle Icon.

Wigles List view is the default.

Bring up the Wigle app options and tap on Scan On.

The List view will start filling up with networks that are being found.

The Map tab will display the networks on a graphical map.

The Dashboard tab will display scanning statistics.

When done scanning bring up the Wigle options menu and tap on Scan Off.

App Settings

Bring up the Wigle options menu and tap on Settings.

Turn off or uncheck the sounds and announce GPS status change settings. (Optional, but I liked having the sounds off especially if I was war walking)

Turn off voice commands.

There are several settings to adjust how the program scans based on how fast your moving. You will probably want to experiment with these settings to see how they will affect your scanning.

Save the KML File and Load it In Google Earth

Go to the Data tab and tap on KML Export Run.

Click OK to confirm the export.

The Success screen will show the location along with the name of the KML file. The file name will include the date and time it was created after the underscore. Click OK.

Browse the phones file system and find the Wiglewifi folder. If you have the Google Earth app loaded on your phone the KML file will be associated with the program and tapping on the file will open the file in Google Earth. (To load the Google Earth app go to Google Play Store, refer to the beginning of this blog post on installing the Wigle app for reference to install the Google Earth app)

The Google Earth app will open and show the scanned networks. Double tap on the screen to zoom in.